A new work by turntablist, sound artist and musician NikNak will be exhibited at the “Smilga” gallery in Riga, Latvia (34A Eduarda Smiļģa street) from December 12 till December 22. The installation was commissioned by Skaņu Mežs festival for experimental music and the sound art project “teknē”, co-funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. On December 11, NikNak will open the exhibition with a performance. Admission to these events is free.
About the work
The quadraphonic installation “Merge” serves as a culmination of two key aspects of the artist’s career and time spent in Riga. The first component features a live recording of an improvised turntablism performance, incorporating sounds collected during the artist’s time in the city. The second element presents an ambient adaptation of her performance of album “Ireti”, previously showcased at the bar “1983” in Riga. The goal is for both works to provide insight into the artist’s roles as a creator, performer, and producer, while also reflecting on her time during the residency in Riga.
The installation is part of the sound art project “tekhnē”. It is supported by the European Union and The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.
About the artist
NikNak (aka Nicole Raymond), an artist well-known for her creative and boundary-breaking work, has gained worldwide recognition with her unusual albums, remixes, and engaging performances. In 2020, she made history as the first Black Turntablist to receive the prestigious Oram Award that recognises women and gender diverse artists who are innovators in the fields of music, sound and related technologies. Not limited to any one genre or role, NikNak excels in composing, sound design, DJing, and electronic arts. With multiple releases, collaborations, and live shows, NikNak stands out in the music industry for her unique style. Featured in various publications as a rising star, NikNak continues to advance the boundaries of sound innovation with her complex turntablism and spatial music production.
NikNak also hosts “The Narrative”, a podcast that focuses on and features Black female, trans and non-binary creatives in music, art, photography, dance and many more creative industries.
Her most well-known recordings are 2020’s “Bashi”, devoted to the concept of peace, 2023’s EP “Moon”, devoted to sleep, darkness and the unconscious, and this year’s “Ireti” – a bass music inspired album that “DJ Mag” described in the following words: “Turntablist NikNak has a unique style, cutting and scratching field recordings and samples into ambient tracks — but her latest album finds her leaning into the dance music you might hear in one of her club sets.”
It is also invisibly structured by an afro-futuristic sci-fi story that NikNak devised, inspired by the classic film “Blade Runner” and the video game “Cyberpunk 2077”.
In its review of “Ireti”, “The Quietus” writes thus: “Her patterns shimmer with eeriness, barren like a desert yet coloured in gleaming chrome. There’s a darkness churning within these glossy beats, something lurking and waiting to pounce – the anxiety of dystopia looms, and NikNak captures it and sends it out in mysterious waves.”
Opening performance
NikNak will open the exhibition at “Smilga” with a performance on December 11. The event starts at 19:00. Admission is free.
Dates of the exhibition
The exhibition will be open to the public between December 12 and 22. “Smilga” is open from Tuesdays till Sundays; working times are 16:00 – 20:00. It will be closed on December 16 and 17.
